This is the remix... the Hyundai i20 remix. Ryan Bubear drives it. 

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Free. Gratis. At no extra cost.

Words such as these are music to the ears of today's seemingly always empty-walleted Joe Public. Yes, to poor ol' Joseph (the vast majority of us can relate, no doubt) most things cost far too much. And just when he thinks he's got a handle on things, up goes the price of virtually everything on his shopping list.

So, when the magic "free" word makes an appearance, Joe's ears prick up. His eyes light up. "If it's free, it's for me, I'll take three," he whispers eagerly, determined to finally cash in. But Joe should probably be wary. After all, there's no such thing as a free lunch, is there?

That's where the Hyundai i20 remix comes in. No, we're not suggesting you attempt to dine on the extras that come with the car. In fact, we wouldn't recommend eating anything that was once part of a small hatchback (although we'd probably pay good money to see someone successfully consume a steaming plateful of Bluetooth).

But what we are saying is that the i20 remix includes a number of tasty, tangible add-ons, with absolutely no unpalatable add-ons to the bill. Yip, the i20 remix is priced at R169 900 — exactly the same as the standard, range-topping 1.6-litre i20.

What's on the table?

So, besides a splash of remix badging, what do you get? Well, most noticeable from the outside would be the 15-inch alloys. And they're a damn side better-looking than steel wheels with plastic hubcaps.

A rear spoiler is also thrown into the mix, giving the i20's rear end a "finished" look. Oh, and the rear glass and side windows get tinted safety film as well.

The i20 is already pretty easy to park — thanks to its compact size and decent visibility — but the folks at Hyundai decided that the remix could benefit from a park distance control too. The system is nicely integrated and works well.

Lastly, the i20 remix's six-speaker sound system — with USB and auxiliary ports — now has a Bluetooth function, thanks to the addition of an aftermarket Parrot system. The specific product used is the Parrot CK3000 Evolution, which is a simple yet effective hands-free calling system. The control module, mounted to the right of the steering column, is small and simple-looking, and doesn't get in the way at all. Its trump card? A surprisingly effective voice-command system that means there's no fiddling about with buttons while driving. Yes, completely hands-free.

Enough oomph

The i20 remix is powered by Hyundai's familiar 1591cc petrol engine, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. It pumps out 91kW and 156Nm and is more than quick enough for the average urbanite's daily commute. The little hatch can hit 100km/h in under ten seconds, if you really feel the need to push it. Hyundai claims a combined fuel consumption figure of 5.9 litres per 100km, but we could only manage a figure of around seven.  

Over-and-above the remix's extras, the i20 comes with plenty of features, including electric exterior mirrors, electric windows (with one-touch for the driver), remote central locking, multi-functional steering wheel (height and reach adjustable), air-con, and a trip computer.

Boot space is not bad for a car of this size, with room for 295 litres of luggage, while the rear seats are designed in the usual 60:40 split, allowing bulkier items to be accommodated too.

Despite being launched well over two years ago, the i20 still looks pretty fresh if you opt for the right paint colour. A face-lifted version has just been launched in the UK (see the small visual tweaks here), and should hit our shores in the next few months, so Hyundai SA will be keen to move stock of the remix — hence the price and added value.

Chuck in a five-year or 150 000km comprehensive warranty, as well as a three-year or 60 000km service plan, and it's a pretty good option if you're in the market for a compact, affordable hatch.

After all, how often does Joe Public get something for nothing these days?

Follow @Ryan_Bubear on Twitter to see what he's currently driving.

See page 2 for specs and pricing.